There's probably a long list for eating bugs, but I'll give you the top five reasons why. I have done quite a bit of research on the subject of entomophagy (eating insects), and my study consistently leads me back to a set of core values that have become the basis of my understanding of the subject.
The criteria I used to compile this list include logic, common sense, and practicality. I mean, really, if you don't normally eat bugs, you need a practical, logical reason to justify eating a fried cricket instead of fried chicken. So, in no particular order, here are my top five reasons for eating bugs.
Reason #1 - Protein Score
Not to get too scientific here, I want to say that we all need protein in our bodies. This is what makes all sorts of things happen inside us and without us passing out. Typical sources of this magical body-enhancing substance are pork, beef, chicken and fish. If you don't eat meat, you can still get protein from eggs, cheese, yogurt, milk, and soy milk. If you don't eat meat or dairy, you can still get them from tofu, beans, nuts, and seeds. Although insects are not a vegetarian food, they are a high source of protein compared to traditional sources like meat. Crickets and mealworms score particularly well in the protein table.
Reason #2 – Nutritional value
Nutrients are substances that provide us with energy or support metabolism. Both goals are essential for human health. Protein is part of the requirement, but our bodies also need a variety of other nutrients every day to function, even if it's just lounging on the couch during the day. Crickets are high in many nutrients, including calcium (75.8 grams per 100 grams of crickets), iron 9.5 grams/100 grams, fiber 3.0 grams/100 grams, and vitamins. Beef contains only 1.0 gram of iron in 100 grams of meat.
Reason #3 – Low environmental impact
Beef requires 10kg of feed to produce 1kg of edible meat and 25kg of feed per kg of live weight. Also, you can only eat 40% of the cow. For comparison, crickets consume 2 kilograms of food per kilogram of food weight and a little more than one kilogram of food per kilogram of live weight. You can also eat 80% of the crickets. Then there is the space required for each culture. Cattle need a lot more space than crickets. You can run an efficient cricket farm in a closet where you would need at least a barn to raise a few head of cattle. That brings us to the middle of my top five reasons to eat bugs.
Reason #4 – Variety and Flavor
Although there are fewer than a hundred different breeds of cattle, there are over three hundred species of insects. Cattle can only be raised in certain parts of the world and typically not in urban areas (I know it's obvious, but I'll get something with this). Insects are almost everywhere and although they disappear during the colder months of the year, you can breed insects in your home all year round. Then there's the taste. The veal is ok, the meat. It's good on its own, but the meat is often prepared with many other ingredients to enhance the flavor. However, dipping in barbecue sauce only makes the meat taste like meat dipped in barbecue sauce. Crickets and mealworms have a natural nutty flavor and taste similar to chicken or shrimp. Giving them certain foods in a "flavor phase" gives the crickets and mealworms the flavor you flavored them with. For example, feeding apples and cinnamon creates an apple and cinnamon flavor. Now for the last of my top five reasons to eat bugs.
Reason #5 – Variety of preparation
Meat and insects can be eaten in different types of dishes. These include fried, roasted, boiled, baked and sautéed. Where insects are superior to meat and other traditional forms of protein is the additional ways they can be prepared for food. Insects can be ground into flour and baked into cookies and bread. Flour can be used in crackers and other flour-based items like wrappers, clams, and pasta. Flour can also be used in protein bars, mixed into powdered protein shakes, and sprinkled onto other foods as protein powder. Good luck getting a piece of meat for it.
There you have it, my top five reasons for eating insects. Like I said, depending on which source you refer to, you'll likely find longer lists, or maybe add a few of your own tips to my top five reasons list. The bottom line is that you no longer have to rely on meat, fish or poultry as your primary source of protein or nutrients. Eating insects is an activity that dates back thousands of years but is just starting to become increasingly common in North America. They're a healthy, long-lasting option, and you don't need my list of the top five reasons to enjoy them.
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